A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Fortt family of England.
Reg. 2316 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
hammerHonest labour, and the smith's craft
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Ar. three mallets gu. (another, sa.)”
SomersetSomerset, c. 1620
Where the Fortt Arms Were Recorded
Somerset
Map of England showing where the Fortt arms are recorded
The Fortt arms were recorded in Somerset, c. 1620.
Somerset was rich farming country with a thick scattering of manor houses. Its gentry were numerous and long-settled, and a settled landed family almost always ended up with arms.
This is where the arms were entered in the register. Families often moved to other parts of the country, so the same name can turn up in more than one region.
The body that granted and recorded arms in England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in England when the Fortt arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Somerset.
Origin & History of the Fortt Family in England
The family name Fortt traces its roots to the historic county of Somerset in the west of England. By the year 1620, records confirm that members of the family were well-established residents in this region. The name likely originated as a descriptive nickname or a locational identifier, reflecting the linguistic patterns common in rural English communities during the late medieval and early modern periods. Families in Somerset during the early seventeenth century were often deeply connected to the local landscape, frequently working in agriculture or the growing wool trade that defined the regional economy. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of Somerset, leaving behind traces in local parish registers and legal documents that track their daily lives and community involvement over several centuries.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Fortis
Latin term meaning strong, brave, or steadfast.
This name
ForttA nickname for a person who was physically strong or courageous.
also spelled
Fortt
Forts
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Dunning, Robert, A History of Somerset, 1983
Somerset Archives, Parish Registers of Somerset, 1620
Toulmin, Joshua, The History of the Town of Taunton, in the County of Somerset, 1791
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
hammerHonest labour, and the smith's craft
hammerHonest labour, and the smith's craft
